I WISH your reporter had spoken to a wider group of people before writing the article "Residents speak out on 20mph speed limit plan" in last weekend's Post.

I went to one of the council's 20's Plenty presentations for the 20mph speed limit in the Sherwood area and came away with quite a different view of the proposal.

Through talking to members of the transport department, it emerged that the benefits claimed for the new scheme – such as fuel savings for vehicles, safer streets, etc – come when a 20-mile speed limit is introduced instead of traffic-calming over a residential area.

"Problem" streets in Sherwood have long had sets of traffic humps installed along their lengths and the 20mph proposal will not include the removal of these. So the new speed limit will be put in on top of existing traffic-calming, not instead of it!

Transport staff told me that they had received reports of speeding on some parts of the area's thoroughfares, in particular areas along Haydn Road and Perry Road. This speeding is relative to the existing speed limits, but no action has been taken to confirm this or to enforce current limits.

It seems unlikely that this would disappear on these roads if the limit was dropped to 20 mph – assuming the community would be in favour of such a drop on main thoroughfares.

The Sherwood proposal also envisages the organising of a community volunteer speed monitoring group to check and challenge speeding in the new zone. The effectiveness of such a force, with apparently limited powers, is contentious, but putting that aside, is there any reason why this group could not be formed now in an attempt (similar to that envisaged under the new scheme) to enforce the speed limits that currently exist?

Sherwood does not have a notable problem with serious injury on its roads. In fact, in this respect it compares very well with other areas around the city.

So has there been a campaign from the community for a blanket 20mph speed limit in Sherwood? The answer to that is "no".

The reason for introducing it here, I was informed, is Jane Urquhart, the portfolio holder for transport and planning on the city council, and local councillor for Sherwood.

She is highly impressed by the claims made for wide-ranging 20mph zones in other areas of the UK and is very motivated to bring 20mph limits to Nottingham.

So it seems ultimately that the initiative is political rather than for the benefits that a 20mph zone can bring for the residents. I was also told that the cost of implementing "20's Plenty" in the area could be £200,000.

P WILLIS

Mansfield Street

Sherwood

IT is good news that councillors are finally admitting they got it wrong about extending hours for parking charges in Nottingham city centre.

What a pity that they failed to heed the unprecedented number of warnings about what a disaster it would be.

The council leader, Jon Collins, should immediately call an emergency meeting of all councillors so that the matter is properly discussed and this crazy scheme is scrapped as soon as possible.

City centre businesses are losing thousands of pounds every day he dithers, so there really is no time to delay. Many people are annoyed that Mr Collins failed to mention the plans for extending parking charges during the local elections last May.

Councillor Jane Urquhart seems unable to produce a single document to substantiate her wild and unrealistic claims about why this crazy scheme was ever necessary in the first place. It appears she failed to look into four or five viable alternatives which would have increased the number of parking spaces without extra charge to the public.

We do not want to see any further complicated red tape schemes introduced. The council need to scrap all the extra charges immediately. If they really want to help city centre businesses prosper, then they should also consider the benefits of reducing the charging hours on Monday to Saturday to 10am-4pm only.

PAUL ROWE

Derby Road

Stapleford

WATER companies have just announced a disgraceful rise of 5.7% on average.

Ofwat are a complete joke!

Every household in the country is being forced to pay nearly £400 a year. That's more than double what the BBC collects in TV licence revenue. We are talking billions upon billions.

They're awash with our cash, with a product that is free, falling from the sky at no cost!

We are all being taken for complete fools. Any proposed increase should have been postponed. It's diabolical.

Anyone living in so-called social housing, (council, housing association tenants) will face another massive rise in rents from April. Part of a Government plan, with higher rents to fund new building, but we have seen no evidence of this! Energy bills will rise again this year, leading to great hardship for many families.

This cobbled-up coalition is destroying the country. Despite all the cuts and millions out of work, we have a national debt billions more than before!

They do not have a clue.

We need investment and growth.

Why not declare the country bankrupt? If we owe one trillion pounds, we must be.

I'm tired of hearing about people living on benefits. They are not high, but quite low. Try living on £70 a week. Today, rents, especially private housing rents, are far too high, and wages are far too low. That is the problem

We have no chance of survival, thanks to greedy companies bleeding us dry, and this useless coalition. I detest Cameron, Clegg, Osborne and Co, yet people still grin and shake their hands. Unbelievable!

TERRY TOMLINSON

Cambridge Street

Carlton

THE wide and splendid University Boulevard, which Jesse Boot spent £200,000 to construct, is currently being despoiled.

Forty-five mature lime trees are being cut down in preparation for the building of the new tram line to Beeston and Chilwell. When, in the 1920s, the City Transport Department considered running trams along University Boulevard, Jesse Boot objected to the laying of tram lines and it was decided to run a bus service on the route instead.

Have the authorities consulted with the trustees of the estate of Jesse Boot to discover their views on the great change being made to University Boulevard?

J D WHITWORTH

Broadway East

Carlton